How could new-build homes be improved to encourage more renewable energy use?

They could be built much more efficiently, with wall and loft insulation already in place, double glazing as standard, and energy efficient appliances and lightbulbs installed from the get go. Another thing that companies are looking into is plugging towns - or even housing estates - into smart grids, that respond to smart meters in the home which report on energy usage and fluctuations so that electricity can be used in the most efficient way possible.